We expect Samsung to announce a series of three phones on January 14 when the Samsung Galaxy S21 devices are launched, which also happens to be the last day of CES 2021, and a new rumor indicates that the company is focusing on the lowest – shallow flagship model – both by increasing production and lowering the price tag, along with price declines for the other two models, at least in Korea.
The new report from the Korean technology website ETNews claims that the standard S21 will cost 990,000 won (about $ 904 / £ 666 / AU $ 1,163), which is a serious discount on the price of last year’s Samsung Galaxy S20, which costs 1,248,000 won (which converts to $ 1,141 USD, but we all know S20 ends up being $ 999 / £ 899 / AU $ 1,499 [so that rumored S21 won-to-USD $904 number could be even lower]).
Today’s rumors also point to price declines for the S21 Plus to 1,199,000 won (approximately $ 1,095 / £ 807 / AU $ 1,410) from the S20 Plus price of 1,353,000 won ($ 1,199 / £ 999 / AU $ 1,649 ) and a drop in the S21 Ultra to 1,450,000 won (approximately $ 1,324 / £ 976 / AU $ 1,706) from the S20 Ultra price of 1,595,000 won price ($ 1,399 / £ 1,199 / AU $ 1,999).
The point of the price drop is obvious – to increase sales – and better compete with the iPhone 12 (which starts at $ 799 / £ 799 / AU $ 1,349 / about 1,090,000 won). The report noted the fierce competition among ultra-high performance phones, and the growing frustration of consumers over the ever-rising prices of smartphones.
The report only spoke to Korean prices, and it is unclear whether this price drop will be repeated in other regions.
To reach the bottom price, the S21 (and the S21 Plus) lower their resolutions to Full HD (approximately 2400 x 1080) from the QHD (approximately 2880 x 1440) of the S20 line. This is not too surprising, as the Note series has quietly done the same with the lower-end models since the Samsung Galaxy Note 10. The phones will also save costs by coming without charging blocks, as earlier rumors have done.
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S21: higher commitment, more production?
While it is never clear how much of each model will be produced with the latest range of phones, the new rumor indicates that Samsung will focus 60% of its production volume on the Samsung S21. If this is true, the phone maker seems to be betting big that the cheaper models will be more attractive to consumers.
This is probably wise, given the raid the phone industry took last year when the outbreak of the coronavirus had an effect. sales and production capabilities, which Samsung can definitely do feeling. Economy and personal spending habits have recovered somewhat, but more affordable smartphones certainly seem more suited to a world where companies and consumers are tightening their belts.
Furthermore, consumer greed at rising smartphone prices is not new – nor is the correction of the course in the industry. Google may have the most obvious example, as the features have been switched from the Pixel 4 to the cheaper Pixel 5, but both Apple and Samsung have released phones that bring the flagship specifications closer to the mid-range prices in the iPhone 12 mini and Samsung Galaxy S20 Drops Fan Edition.
Via AndroidAuthority